Mid-cycle — watch for announcements before buying
Best for: Makers who want CoreXY speed and precision with Prusa's open-source ethos, community support, and long-term repairability — without Bambu's closed ecosystem.
Full details →Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming soon
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want CoreXY speed without the Bambu ecosystem or Prusa premium — and are comfortable with a more hands-on setup experience.
Full details →| Prusa Research Core One | Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 250 × 220 × 270 mm | 220 × 220 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ✅ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PC | PLA, PETG, TPU |
| Released | Jan 14, 2025 | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~730 days | ~450 days |
| Cycle advice | Caution | Wait |
| Deals advice | Caution | Buy |
| Next model | Core One S (enclosed) (Expected 2027) | Ender 3 V4 or V3 KE 2 (Expected mid-2026) |
The Core One matches Bambu CoreXY speed (600 mm/s) while keeping everything open source — firmware, hardware, slicing profiles.
Unlike Bambu's closed ecosystem, every component of the Core One can be modified, repaired, or community-improved.
Existing MMU3 units and the new MMU3 for Core One bring 5-color multicolor printing to the CoreXY platform.
The KE brings CoreXY motion to the Ender 3 family — historically a bed-slinger platform — delivering 500 mm/s without the Bambu premium.
The Ender 3 series has one of the largest 3D printer communities in the world, with thousands of documented modifications and upgrades.
If you outgrow the KE, the Creality K1C and K2 Plus are natural next steps within the same brand ecosystem.